MHW-512 Family Dynamics and Systems Worksheet 3
As a mental health worker, it is essential to understand the family systems: Individuals and their roles and boundaries. This assignments will help you understand how to analyze a family system.
Cite two to four sources (in addition to the textbook) to support your answers.
After viewing the What’s Eating Gilbert Grape film and reading the “What’s Eating Gilbert Grape Case Study,” answer the following prompts:
| Explain what is meant by a “parentified” child. (50-75 words): |
| Describe a family system that contributes to a “parentified” child. (100-150 words): |
| Explain an example of a “parentified” child in the film What’s Eating Gilbert Grape. What were some of the issues this child had to face? How did this child handle the issues? Explain the parental effect on this child (150-200 words): |
After reading “The Four Horseman: Criticism, Contempt, Defensiveness, and Stonewalling,” by Lisitsa, from The Gottsman Institute, answer the following prompts:
| Explain the Four Horseman communication styles in relation to parenting by describing each and providing an example (75-100 words each): |
| Criticism: |
| Contempt: |
| Defensiveness: |
| Stonewalling: |
| Explain what is meant by pursuer-distancer dynamics in couples: |
| Describe what the pursuer-distancer looks like in a couple. (50-75 words). |
| Provide an example of a pursuer-distancer you know (50-75 words): |
| Recommend ways to break the pursuer-distancer pattern (75-100 words): |
| Next, list some of the parenting dynamics and challenges of the following parenting types (75-100 words each): |
| Married parents: |
| Single parents: |
| Divorced parents: |
| Step parents: |
| Same-sex parents: |
MHW 512 FAMILY DYNAMICS WORKSHEET#3